Downwind sailing

Hi guys, I was just wondering how you sail the downwind leg of a regatta. I ve been told that it pays to run by the lee and doing zig zag ? I am new into lasers, can anyone tell me how to sail the downwind leg? I know that dead downwind is pretty slow. Opinions will be welcomed!!

hi ive saild downwind for quite some time its pretty easy, let kicker, cunningham, outhaul off, sail out dagger board up but go slightly high for the nxt mark as it is faster if you got too far up gybe and zigzag on the other tack of you death roll sheet in a bit and dagger board down

whats best to do is to go by the lee. doing the s curves only comes into play when there are waves that your trying to work. in the lighter conditions let your controls off and go by the lee and add some winward heel to neutrailaize helm. you can find some videos on youtube to really get what s curves are about. alot of people like to use a windex to pick their lee angle.

gordo said:

alot of people like to use a windex to pick their lee angle.

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Huh? I am guessing that you aren't talking about the window cleaner.

Sailingpj said:

Huh? I am guessing that you aren't talking about the window cleaner.

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Naw, it's the arrow wind directional thingy you stick on the mast.

Ohh, the wind indicator.

Sailingpj said:

Ohh, the wind indicator.

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Yup.

What I do is sailing by the lee as much as I can, going up on the lulls and sailing down in the puffs.
The most important thing: Keep rudder movements minimal, they slow you down, steer with your body instead, leaning to windward to come up and to leeward to bear off.